Machine for forming tubes.



'E. J. STEELE & T. H. C. HANSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 0, 1905.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

INVENTCRS kick 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

'ATTOB EY E. J. STEELE & T. H. G. HANSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1905.

943,902. Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Q

' MI 'WH 'WH mm ATTOR E. J. STEELE & T. H. G. HANSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1905.

MW m

P u m. n

[NVENTORS M XM B. J. STEELE & T. H. O. HANSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

Patnted Dec. 21, 1909.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1905.

TORS

INVEN J Q'ZQ, \JVLM A TORNEY my a E. J. S E & T. H. G. HANSEN. MA FOR FORMING TUBES. AAAAAAAAA onrunn mm; 9, 1905.

943,902. r Patented Dec.21, 1909. Q 6 SHEETS-sHjEET 5.

INVENTORS v My 0 WWZ BY I i m V ments in Machines for Forming UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

TIAN Hansen,

'ELISHA JONES STEELE, 0F TOBBINGTON, CONNECTICUT, AND THORVALD HANS CHRIS- OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNQRS TO THE COE BRASS MANU- r'eeron'me COMPANY, A conrona'rron or CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

" Application filed June 9, 1905. Serial No. 264,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Emsrm J ONES STEELE and Tnonynnn HANS CHRISTIAN I'IANSEN, re-

siding, respectivel Litchfield, State 0 county of Kenosha, invented certain new and at Torrington, county of State of \Visconsin, have useful Improvev Tubes, of which the following s a specification.

Our invention consists in a machine for forming tubes from strip metal. v

Many attempts have heretofore been made to form a closed tube from strip metal, which attempts have failed owing to the fact that when the tube is removed from the machine the natural resiliency of the metal acts to separate the opposing edges of the tube. The machine which forms the subject of our invention is designed to overcome this objection, and to form what is strictly a closed tube; that is, a tube with the opposing edges in apposltion and pressed closely toperfectly closed tube,-and further, to mate-- rially decrease the cost of making such tubes.

\Vith our machine the tubes are formed continuously and by purely mechanical means without hand labor, thus doing away with the eight necessary operations now used in forming tubes. 4 The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate our invention.

Figure l'is a plan'view and horizontal section, taken on the line-.1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig.3 is a vertical section and elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.. Fig. dis a-vertical section and elevation on the is a transverse section and elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig; 4. Fig. '6 is a partial plan view of Fig. 4Q Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-4? of. Fig. 2, showing the controlling valve. Fig. 8 'is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of' Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is an end view showing the relation to each other of the rolls of the second pair.

Connecticut, and Kenosha,

then between the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5

Fig. 10 is an end View showing the relation of the third pair of rolls. Fig. 11. is an end view and partial section, looking from the right, taken on the line l1--11 of Fig.2. Fig. 12 is a section and elevation taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is a transverse .section taken through a strip to be formed into a tube, and showing the shape of the sides of the strip after passing the scarfing knives. Fig. l-t is a section through the first pair of rolls and strip, and showing the shape given to the strip by the action of these rolls. Fig. 15 is a corresponding view,

showing the section given the strip by the second pair of rolls. Fig. 16 is a similar view, showing the section given the strip by the third pair of-rolls. Fig. 17 is a similar view, showing the section given the strip by the fourth pair of rolls.

Before entering into a detailed description of the mechanism of the machine, we will generally describe its opera-ti'on: A

strip of metal having the required thickness and width to produce a tube of given diameter is fed into the left hand side of the machine and between a pair of inclined cir-' cular scarfing knives, which are best shown in Fig. 5. These knives scarf the edges of the stri to give it the shape shown in Fig. 13. A .ter being scarfed, the strip is fed between the first pair of rolls and shaped primarily by the depression of the upper rol and secondarily by rolling, as shown in Fig. 14. 'It then passes between the secondpalr of rolls and is shaped as shown in Fig. 15; third pair of rolls and shaped as shown in Fig. 16, then between the fourth pair of rolls, which it will be observed, together form an elliptical opening,

and is shaped as shown in Fig. 17 that is, the tube ismade circular in section with the edges of the tube in apposition, with the V-shaped groove or recess extending from the co-acting edges upward and outwardly. The tube is then fed out of the machine and into a carrier,'indicated at the extreme right of the machine, from which carrier the tube rolls by gravity, shown in Fig. 1 2 is lifted. The tube is then taken to the brazing room and the V-shaped groove or recess filled with solder and the tube introduced into the usual brazing furnace.

when the retaining device Or, if desired, the introduction of the through the machine.

brazing solder and brazing or itsequivalent may be effected while the tube is passing li e have not in this application described the apparatus for brazing, or otherwise se- I form'this act in connection with the machine shown.

[Referring now to the construction of the machine:

Mounted in suitable bearings 20, pro ectingnpwardly from a base 21,.is a shaft, 22,

andsecurcd to the end-of this shaft is; the main driving pulley Located upon the shaft 22 is the cone gears 24, any one of be arranged to drive any one of which may mounted loosely on the the cone ot'gears 25, shaft 27', )rojecting upward from the base.

25 indicates a slotted collar longitudinally movable upon the shaft 26. This collar moves over spliney29 on shaft 26 and carries a spline '30, which is adapted to engage with recesses cut in the interior of the hubs of the cone of gears 25.

31 .indicates .a lever pivoted at 32 on one of the bearings 20. By means of this lever the slotted collar 28 and spline 30. may be reciprocatcd on the shaft 26', so as to-t-hrou 1 any of the cone of gears25 into connection speed 'of the machine.

.with the shaft 26,, th'e'object of which arrangement is to provide for a change of T he'lever 31 moves over a sector33 having holes 34'therein, adaptedto-coiiperate with endof'a latch 36, pivoted upon the lever 31. The speed changing device shown is that which we find desirable for use; we 'may,

however, substitute for it any other speed-j or wemay drive the machanging. device,

chine at a single speed.

Located upon the shaft 26, and secured gears 37 .Mounted ings 39, 40, situated in the vertical standards 41, 42,- projecting upward from the main frame 21, are the beveled gears 43, in mesh with gears 37. The'vertical standards or uprights, 41,-Figs. '2, 8'and 11, are slotted; or in other words, cutaway at their center to form the guides Situated in these guides are the frames or housings 45, 46. Located in the bearings 47, 48, thelower frame or housing, Fig. 8, is a shaft 49,; and on this shaft a gear 50, and a roll B. A similar shaft, 51, iscarried in the bearings 52, 53, in the frame or. housing 45. The frame or housing 46 is madevertically adjustable by means of the screws 54, and the frame or housing 45, so faras relates to the three housings to the right of-Fig. 2,.by

26. This shaft is located in bt iarin gs a pin 35 on the 1. housing of the first pair of rolls. For the rolls in order,- from left to 1'ight ,-A,B, -C,D,

E,F, Gr ,H.

which the distance betwe. the shafts 49,- 51,

51, is a gear 61, and on the forward end of the shaft a. roll A. In order to communicate. the motion of the shaft26 to the'shafts49, 51, there is located on theshaft 38, best shown in Fig. 3, a wide gear 62, which is in mesh-with gear 50 on shaft 49, and also" 64, carried. in the upper end of a link 65,

Figs. 3 and 11.v The gear 63 is in mesh with connected through the-link 66, It will thus be seen that the frames 45, 46, may be moved vertically relative to each other without the shafts 49, 51, being thrown out of gear with the driving shaft 26.

The pairs of rolls A B, C,D, E,F, G,H; are given any desired shape,

the roll A has'a flattened convex surface, and-the roll B a flattened-concave surface, Figs. 8,14; the roll C has a projecting flange with a V-shaped edge, while a ll-sha ped cavity cut in its periphery, Figs. 9, 15; the roll E has a concave cavity cut in its periphery, while'the roll F has a substantially U-shaped cavity cut injits periphery, Figs. 10, 16; the roll G has a con cave cavity, which forms one-half 0 1613 11 ellipse, cut in its periphery, and thesame is true of the roll H, Figs. 11, 17. The ob-' ively to .the inclusive.

Figs. 4,5, 6, consists of a .base 67 vertically aid 69 secured to the base21.' This vertical adjustment is'eifected by means ofascrew 70. The top of the base portion 67 is (love. tailed transversely to form a slot 71 and extending across the center of the slotis a plate 72 securedat the endsto the base por- 139 tion 67.

purposes of description, we will call the:

.may be determined. Situated on theshaft the gear 61 on shaft'5l. Shafts 51, 64, are a In order to scarf theopposing edges of the indicates a limiting crew, by reason of in mesh with a gear 63, mountedon shaft which is'pivoted on shaft38, as shown in I but preferably the roll D has 11110 ject of giving the different shapes to the rolls is to bend and roll the metal progress shapes shown in'Figs. 6 to 17 the opposing edges surfaces which will be I each other, as shown at J, K, F ig." 17,.We g

of the machine. The .scarfin'g attachment, f

' adjustable in guides 68, formed in a stand- Arranged in'adjustablc universal bearings 1 76 on each of the side frames 73 and 74 are the rotary scarfing knives 7 T The vertical faces of these knives are arranged at an angle to the plane of the plate 72. The side frames 73 and 74 are each provided with an inclined guide 7 Son which a frame 7 9 having corresponding guides at each end can l slide. The frame 79 has a base plate 80 strip which extends across above'and parallel to plate 72. Between the' plates 7 2 and the strip I is free to pass. The friction of the will cause-the frame 7 9 to be drawn along the inclined guides 78 causing the plate 80 to press upon the strip.

Au arm 81 s secured to screw 75 by means ot a screw 82, a pin 83 extending from arm rides in a slot. 84 on the frame '19. By

this means any movement of frame 79- will be imparted to screw 75 to force the side frames 73 and 74 together with the cutters 77 toward or away from the edges of the strip.

The distance between-the platestlmay be adjusted by means of 'thev sere\vs 81and lock nuts St), which by means "of the crossbar 87, limits the movement of frame 79. The depth of cut of cutters 77 is regulated by means of screw 88 and lock nut 89. The cutters are made to revolve by placing the center of the cutter below the path of the strip. I.

90 indicates an elastically supported device for oiling the lower side ofthe strip. ill the handle for throwing'this device into and out of engagement with the strip. 1. Any other suitable device maybe substituted for that shown} Situated between the pairs of-rolls, A,B, (7,1), and C,D,' E,F,- are the guides 92, 93. These guides serve to keep the general direction of the strip, when shaped under the action of the two first pairs of rolls. Situated beyond the pair of rolls (3 H, is a guide Q-l, vertically adjustable by means of the screw 95. Located at the'extreme right of the machine. is a carrier having an inclined surface 96. Pivoted to the upper portion of this surface is one of a. number of. arms 97, to the lower end of which is attached a strip 98. which is connected to the several arms. The arms are connected to a shaft 99, and secured to this shaft is a lever 100, and a footv treadle 101. The finished tube is fed between the inclined surface 96 and the strip table placed to receive it.

In this specification we have given a very general description of the mechanism 'of the machine.leaving out all details. \No have taken this course as we wish it understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs that we may change the details of the machine in many particulars. That is, we may change the form and shape of the scarfing attachment, and means employed to adjustthe rolls of a pair relative to each other. the mechanism for driving the rolls and at the same time permitting their adjustment, the shape and arrangement of the guides, etc. etc. And further, because it is our intention to'file separate applications to cover theconstructive details of the various parts.

Having thus described our invention, we claim i 1. A tube forming machine comprising a guide, strip passed through the guide, a pair of rolls one of which has a" plane-convex and the other a plane-concave surface, 'with means for giving one roll a quick vertical movement relative to the other. roll, a series of pairs of shaping rolls, the last pair of rolls having concave surfaces.

2. A tube forming machine comprising a guide, means for scarfing the sides of the strip fed through the guide, a pair of rolls one of which has a plano-convex surface and the other a plano-concave surface; means for reciprocating one of said rolls relative to the other, a second pair of rolls. one of which is disk-shaped and the other has a V-shaped concavity upon its surface, a third pair of rolls one of which is concave on its surface and the other provided with a U-shaped concavity on its surface, a fourth pair of rolls,

each providedwith a concavity on its surface and said concavities con ointly forming an ellipse.

3. A tube forming machine comprising an ad ustable guide, a pair of oppositely placed,

means for scarfing the edges of the.

angularly disposed rotary scarfing knives, a

pair of rolls, one of which is vertically movable relative to the other, together with successive pairs of shaping rolls, the last pair of which have concavitics on their surfaces and of such shape that pressure willbe exerted upon the top and bottom of the shaped tube fed between them.

4. A tube forming machine comprising a guide, means for scarfing the sides of the strip fed through the guide, a series of pairs of rolls, with the rolls of each pair relatively adjustable, means for imparting a quick vertical movement to one of the rolls of the first pair and for exerting pressure by said roll upon the strip, together with adjustable power transmission -means interposed between-the rolls and the source of power.

5. A tube forming machine comprising a guide, means for scarfing the edges of a relative to the opposite roll and arranged to of rolls, means for reciprocating one'ro l of 'with their co-acting' surfaces' shaped as metal strip fed through the guide, a series of pairs of rolls, means for reciprocating one roll of the first pair relativeto the opposite roll and making pressure thereby, and said successive pairs of rolls shaped to give the striplfed between them the forms indicated and to finally produce a closed tube. v

.6. A tube-forming machine comprising a guide, means for scarfing the sides of the strip fed through the guide, a series of airs the first pair relative to the'opposite roll of such pair, said rolls having. the surface shape described, a main driving shaft, a second shaft, speed changing mechanism introduced between the shafts, and power transmission mechanism introduced between the second shaft and the pairs of rolls.

7. 'In a. tube forming machine, a pair of rolls, one of which is vertically movable exert a 1. reliminary shaping pressure upon the material introduced between the-rolls before subjecting said material to the rolling, sliaping action of said rolls. 7

S. In a tube forming machine, the combination of four pairs of rolls, the first pair having one roll arranged to be given a-quick vertical movement relative to the opposite roll and to exert apreliminary pressure before rolling upon the material inserted between such pair of rolls, theco-ac'ting surfaces of said first pair of rolls shaped, one plano-eonvex and the other lano-concave, the second, third and fourth pairs of rolls having a normally fixed operating relation shown and described.

9. A tube forming machine, comprising a series of adjustable rolls with one roll of the first pair adapted to be given a quick verti cal movement relative to the opposite roll of the pair, and'a guiding and scarfing attachment vertically and laterally adjustable relative to the rolls.

10. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a supporting base, a standard, a pair of frames situated in-said standard, a shaft journaled in each frame and carrying a roll, a cylinder mounted on the top of the standard, a piston in said cylinder connected to the upper frame, and a hand lever for direeting t below the piston.

e flow of a motive'fiuid above or 11. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a supporting base, power transmission means'mounted upon said base, a

series of standards, two vertically adjust able frames carried in'each standard, a shaft upon a movable support, andJ-interposed between the power transmlssionineans on the base, and the gears on the shafts in the frames.

12. A tube "forming machine provided with a series of pairs of co-acting rolls, said rolls shaped to progressively bend a flat strip into a circular form, and during the passage of said partially formed strip through the last pair of rolls exert a shaping pressure on the top and bottom of the partially formed strip but not upon the sides.

13. 111 a tube forming machine, a pair of finishing rolls shaped to excrt'pre ssure upon the top and bottom of the partially formed tube and to permit lateral movement without pressure at the sides of said tube. 7

i i. In a tube forming machine, the combination of means for, scarfing' the edges of the strip, means for giving a preliminary shape and set to the end of the strip, and means for progressively rolling the strip toform a closed tube, the opposing edges of which will be spring-pressed by the resiliency of the metal toward each other.

13. A. tube forming machine comprising a guide, a pair of rolls,.one of whichis capable of quick vertical movement relative to the other, successive pairs of shaping rolls, the last pair of the series shaped to have whenin apposition, an tween their faces.

16. In a tube forming machine, a pair of elliptical opening be-. r

guide, scarfing knives set at an angle to the rolls, said rolls having concavities upon their faces which 'conjointly, when the rolls are in apposition, form an elliptical opening with its greatest axis horizontally disposed. In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures, jn'the presence of witnesses.

ELISHA JONES STEELE.

THORVALD HANS CHRISTIAN HANSEN. itnesses 5 JENNTE STEELE HALL, M. TURNER, Gno. H. BENJAMIN, 7. H. PUMPHREY. 

